Page 7 of Gold Rush
I’ve already been shuffled back and forth to multiple rooms in the center, constantly aided by one of the workers. So far, I’ve not seen anyone other than betas — and I’m assuming it’s because they don’t know what todowith me. Designation Centers are glorified office buildings at the end of the day, they’re neutral places for omegas to meet alphas and packs — not house newly emerging freaks of nature.
All the rooms smell sterile, like they’ve been sprayed with hundreds of layers of disinfectants. The doctor already told me that my natural perfume is soft — its honeyed tea scent following me every time I enter the room. Though it’s bitter now, leaving a bad taste in my mouth as I stare at the organizer in front of me as she looks up from her stack of papers.
“I’ll berightback, Miss Walden.” She’s out of the door before I can ask herwhyshe’s leaving again, and I look over at the doctor, exhaustion making me sink back on the table.
The doctor glances at the door before stepping forward, giving me a concerned look. “I’m not sure what they’re going to be able to offer you here. I don’t think they expected anything like this to occur.” Her accent is soft, tone almost motherly as she looks me over. “I’m really concerned what this level of stress will do to you, biologically.”
I blink at her, “I need…” I trail off, shaking my head, “I need the truth, I guess. What am I supposed todo? I’m not taking mybirth control out.” It was the first suggestion from the center’s coordinator and I balked at the other woman like she had three heads.
Because telling me I’m about to be incredibly fertile, suggesting I take out my birth control,andmeet with total strangers who will sleep with me during the week I’m out of my mind — that sounds like my own personal hell. I actually think I’d take a thousand airports over that.
The doctor glares. “No, you arenot. I have no authority to remove your birth control, Miss Walden.” She looks at me seriously. “And neither does anyone else. You’re lucky, this is the same dosage we sometimes put omegas on. It shouldn’t affect anything with this heat, other than keeping you safe from pregnancy. The designation breakthrough happened because the hormones were unprepared to manage it, and it wasn’t combined with blockers.” She clears her throat. “Don’t let a single person at the center insist that you need to remove it, or apackfor that matter. You have the right to your own choice.”
My heart clenches in my chest as I nod at her, glancing at the door. Someone mentioned alphas,packs, because if I go into a first heat without an alpha nearby to help ease the symptoms, it could cause irreparable damage. The high temperatures begin to wreck omega’s immune systems and bodies if the heats aren’t tended to by an alpha — thus the need for at leastonealpha to be with an omega during each heat cycle.
Most of the Designation Centers function as glorified matchmaking services. Very few are funded privately, most receiving grants and government assistance to provide services that keep a list of alphas and their scents for new omegas to look through and find a match. What no one ever said tomewas that most alphas pay to be listed with the centers, keeping a subscription in hopes one day they get a call that an omega is interested to meet them.
Because while alphas don’t have heats, or anything that would make them a burden to society like omegas are — theydohave an innate urge to take care of others. It’s why so many of them find themselves at the top of businesses or people of status. Alphas, unquestionably, function asleaders, even if all of them don’t have personalities suited for the roles.
I signed two sheets of paper when I walked into the center — one non-disclosure agreement confirming I refused to have my information given out to any of the press currently knocking on the center’s doors, and one waiving my permission for the center to run the necessary tests to figure outwhythis was happening.
The doctor in front of me frowns. “I need you to know that?—”
The center coordinator chooses that moment to reappear, lookingslightlyless harried than before. Half a step behind her is another woman, her silvery blonde hair pulled back in a high ponytail as she holds out a cup of coffee to me. I take it eagerly — I’m not sure what time it is exactly, but I’ve been here forhoursand no one will tell me when I can go back to my hotel room.
“Miss Walden.” The coordinator smiles at me, but there’s something slightlyoffabout her expression. “I’m sure this has been a verychaoticevening for you, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to be the one who breaks this news.”
Staring at her, I clutch the coffee a little tighter, acid on my tongue as I glance at the other three women in the room. “What news?”
The coordinator’s smile falters, just abit. “Because you’re not technically an omega who falls under the protections set forth by any of the country’s governing bodies… because of your… age,” she clarifies with a wince. “I’m afraid I can’t let you access our paid database of alphas, packs, and scents.” Her lips press together, back into the same faux smile. “You are both not a client, and have no authorized guardian who can facilitate the meetings.”
The lid pops off the rim as I squeeze the cup. “I’m sorry?”
The coordinator glances to the side, looking at the woman next to her before looking back at me. “Well… you really shouldn’texist, so procedures don’t exist for you.”
“Okay.” I swallow, exhaling with a little, hysterical laugh. “Okay, I’m just going to go back to my hotel?—”
“Miss Walden.” The coordinator stops me, her eyes wide. “I’m sorry, but you also can’t do that. Or fly back to America.”
I blink as my hand shakes.
“This close to a heat, an omega is legally prohibited from air travel, at the risk of sending an alpha into a rut. It’s a great risk to anyone you might come into contact with.” The coordinator winces. “And your hotel has contacted us and said they are no longer comfortable having an omega stay in a room as they don’t have the proper ways to accommodate a guest with your needs.”
The unspoken words float in the air — the hotel can’t risk legally having me stay — if I go into my first heat, it would cause utter chaos for their other guests.
“So…” I stare at her. “What the hell am I supposed to do?”
At this, she forces another smile. “I am making the executive decision that you can stay here,temporarily, until I’m able to contact some packs in the morning who might be willing to waive their prior age ranges and meet with you. All packs, currently, have only agreed to meet with omegas under twenty-five.”
Because twenty-five is the oldest omega to ever emerge. Except for me.
“And I can’t leave.” I say the words softly, my eyes falling on the doctor.
The doctor shakes her head. “I would be concerned about your safety if you were to leave this facility without a proper place to stay.”
It feels like my world comes crashing down as I sit on the little table, clutching the coffee so hard that it spills over the edge, the lukewarm liquid dripping down my wrist.
“Can I…” I look at the coordinator. The last thing I want is to meet with strangers, to be… paired up withstrangersbefore I go into a heat where all I’ll want is to befucked. “Can I think about this?”
